Editorial To Vima: No room for irresponsibility in this cruel April

The cliché reference to the coronavirus as “the invisible enemy” is misleading.

The enemy is visible. It is specific. It is irresponsibility and a singularly dangerous brand of social callousness.

Over the last several days many of our fellow citizens foolishly decided for no serious reason to leave their homes frequently, violating vital restrictions of movement designed to contain the spread of this extremely contagious and deadly virus and save lives.

The balmy weather and a degree of complacency due to the relatively successful containment of the rate of spread of the virus in Greece made for a noxious cocktail.

Our “intrepid” fellow citizens once again filled the streets and when checked by police offered ridiculous excuses.

Their actions endangered their own lives and those of their fellow human beings.

Although most transactions can be conducted online, they prefer to line up in queues as occurred at banks.

Naturally there are people who have legitimate reasons to go from place to place but here we are speaking of those who invoke supposed convictions to violate the partial lockdown or are rebels without a cause.

Their failure to abide by public health guidelines in the first days of the lockdown led to stricter measures of a correctional nature.

Some people were irresponsible even before the coronavirus crisis and the many footed the bill for the actions of the few.

Undoubtedly most people are religiously adhering to guidelines set by the experts.

They respected the lives of their fellow citizens and that is why the spread of the virus has so far been contained.

As a result of the anti-social behaviour of the few the government is reportedly preparing to “punish” the many by implementing even firmer restrictions on movement.

Should it not perhaps first examine the possibility of subjecting those who break the rules to more systematic checks and tougher penalties?

This battle is a marathon and we are just at the beginning.

April will very tough month and our endurance will be tested.

It would be unfair for the price of imprudence to be paid by all indiscriminately.